Yes, we are back to interpretations of the meaning and import of the stimulus. Before you decide how to react to it, you have to interpret what it means to you.
For example, there is a dog in your path. Do you prepare to greet and possibly pet the dog, or do you cross to the other side of the street because the dog might be dangerous, disease-ridden, or it might jump upo and ruin your clothes? Any of these responses is possible and even likely. Any of these responses will color what happens next. And all of these responses are formed by your attitude.
This same thing happens countless times in a day. You size up people and situations and choose your response, constantly. Think of how differently you answer the phone depending on who is calling. Your response to a telemarketer is far different than if it were your best friend or your lover. Why? because your attitude is different.
And a hostile attitude is going to get a different response in return than an open, friendly one, isn't it? Let's call this an "attitude exchange," where your chosen attitude is met by someone else's chosen response.
One attitude exchange colors your mind and your mood, which colors the next attitude exchange, and so forth. The feed into each other. Bad tends to get worse, good tends to get better. You see how this works? And, your attitude affects "them," and theirs will affect you, unless you take care to maintain balance and control.
We suggest that you let the good stuff uplift you, while letting the nasty stuff roll off you, leaving you relatively unaffected. Observe it and see it for what it is, and don't get sucked into it.
You'll find that you can have a beneficial effect on some pretty sour people, people with ingrained negative attitude habits. It may take a while, but if you work on them, some of those hard cases really can smile, if you remind them how often enough! And that can be the making of your day. And theirs.
Strive to keep a good attitude and see what a difference it makes, in so many ways. Your attitude can really change everything. You'll find yourself feeling more relaxed and less stressed.
Expect the worst, and you're likely to get it, along with a kick to the teeth. Expect the best, and you will see flowers where there were none before.
Try it and see. You have absolutely nothing to lose but a headache and a scowl.
We love and bless you. Say "thank you" to accept and receive.
Namaste.
Attitude really is everything and it makes such a huge difference as one goes through life. I see the difference in myself and others around me when I display a happy go lucky outlook instead of my dour expression. An action and reaction is certainly true and we receive what we offer to the world.
ReplyDeleteToo often it seems I expect the worse and that's exactly what I get, wish I could lighten up at times but a dismal outcome is expected so why try anything else. Good positive words, you have the right attitude for sure!!
Thanks, David. I get negative, too, sometimes. In fact, I can be really good at it whether I want to or not! But I'm really trying to do what they suggest, and I think I'm getting better at it.
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